Petroleum products copper corrosion

Copper alloys in wrought or cast form are used for other purposes in ships and other marine installations, such as for propellers bearings, valves and pumps. One widespread application of aluminium-brass is its use for heating coils in tankers carrying crude oil or petroleum products. Some corrosion problems encountered in this and other applications on board ship have been described by Gilbert and Jenner . 

Test method for porosity in gold platings on metal substrates by gas exposures Test method for half-cell potentials of uncoated reinforcing steel in concrete Method for detection of copper corrosion from petroleum products by the copper strip tarnish test... 

Petroleum products-corrosiveness to copper. Copper strip test... 

Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test... 

The relative importance attached to sulfur compounds in petroleum may, at first, seem unwarranted, but the presence of sulfur compounds in any crude oil can only result in harmful effects. For example, the presence of sulfur compounds in finished petroleum products such as gasoline will cause corrosion of engine parts, especially under winter conditions when water containing sulfur dioxide (from the internal combustion) may collect in the crankcase. On the other hand, mercaptans cause the corrosion of copper and brass in the presence of air and also have an adverse effect on the color stability of gasoline and other liquid fuels. 

Corrosive sulfur compounds can be detected by their effect on copper and the form in which the general copper strip corrosion test (ASTM D-1838) for petroleum products is appUed to liquefied petroleum gas. Hydrogen sulfide can be detected by its action on moist lead acetate paper, and a procedure is also used as a measure of sulfur compounds. The method follows the principle of the standard Doctor test. 

The copper strip test methods are used to determine the corrosiveness to copper of gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricating oil, or other hydrocarbons. Most sulfur compounds in petroleum are removed during refining. However, some residual sulfur compounds can have a corroding action on various metals. This effect is dependent on the types of sulfur compounds present. The copper strip corrosion test measures the relative degree of corrosivity of a petroleum product. 

Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test," Amer. Soc. for Test, and Mater., D130 (1976). 

ASTM D 849-97. Standard test method for copper strip corrosion by industrial aromatic hydrocarbons. ISO 2160-98. Petroleum products - Corrosiveness of copper - Copper strip test. 

Presence of small amounts of some sulfur compounds in certain refined products (gas and liquid) can have a corrosion effect on copper alloy components of users equipment that adversely affects their function. For example, copper corrosion products could cause plugging of metering and pilot valves. Consequently, product specifications may call for the product to pass a copper corrosion test such as ASTM D 1838, Test Method for Copper Strip Corrosion by Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gases, or ASTM D 130, Test Method for Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test, or ASTM D 4048, Test Method for Detection of Copper Corrosion from Lubricating Grease. 

Standard Test Method for Mercurous Nitrate Test for Copper and Copper Alloys Standard Specification for Cellulosic Fiber (Wood-Base) Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation Standard Test Method for Half-CeU Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete Standard Test Method for Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test... 

This test method covers the detection of the corrosiveness to copper of aviation gasoline, aviation turbine fuel, automotive gasoline, natural gasoline or other hydrocarbons having a Reid vapor pressure no greater than 18 psi (124 kPa) (Caution—see Note 1 and Annex A2.), cleaners (Stoddard) solvent, kerosine, diesel fuel, distillate fuel oil, lubricating oil, and certain other petroleum products. 

Materials of Construction. In a great many cases, steel is suitable for the construction of alkylating equipment, even in the presence of the strong acid catalysts, as their corrosive effect is greatly lessened by the formation of esters as catalytic intermediate products. In the petroleum industry, sulfuric acid and hydrogen fluoride are employed on a very large scale as alkylation catalysts however, these must be substantially anhydrous to be effective so steel equipment is satisfactory. Where conditions are not anhydrous, lead-lined, Monel-lined, or enamel-lined equipment is satisfactory. In a few cases, copper or tinned copper is still used, as in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and photographic products, to lessen contamination with metals. 

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